Description
A cozy, creamy Swedish Meatball Pasta Bake featuring tender homemade meatballs, buttery noodles, and a luscious gravy-style sauce baked to perfection with melted cheese. It’s comfort food at its finest — hearty, flavorful, and family-approved.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or egg noodles)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine breadcrumbs and milk. Let soak for 5 minutes, then mix in ground meat, egg, garlic powder, onion powder, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown meatballs on all sides (about 5–6 minutes). Remove and set aside — they’ll finish cooking in the sauce.
- In the same skillet, melt butter, then whisk in flour to create a roux. Cook 1 minute.
- Gradually whisk in beef broth, then add heavy cream and Worcestershire sauce. Simmer for 3–4 minutes until thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta until just al dente. Drain and combine with sauce and browned meatballs.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Garnish with parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- For extra flavor, add sautéed onions or mushrooms to the sauce.
- You can use frozen meatballs as a shortcut — just thaw before adding.
- Use egg noodles for a more traditional Swedish touch.
- This dish reheats beautifully for meal prep or leftovers.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dinner, Casserole
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Swedish-American